DETECTIVES are searching around a Redlands industrial estate today as part of an investigation into the disappearance of a Capalaba woman more than three weeks ago.
Natarn Auld, 38, has been missing since early in the morning of December 14.
Detective Inspector Steve Hollands said Ms Auld's family were distraught and were fearing the worst.
"It's been over 3 weeks now, we've still had no contact from the missing person," he said.
"There's been no use of her phone, her bank accounts, social media sites.
"As the passage of time has gone on, our expectations of finding her alive is somewhat lessened and we do fear that the worst has happened to her."
Ms Auld was last seen at 3.30am on December 14 on the western side of Redland Bay Road, walking alone.
Detective Inspector Hollands said there had been heavy rain that night.
Police had information that Ms Auld was in the Capalaba area until 4.20am, before travelling in a vehicle to the Northgate area.
Searches of the area around Cannery Creek at Northgate have not yielded any further information.
On Tuesday, detectives from the homicide investigation unit and bayside criminal investigation branch, along with 17 SES volunteers, are searching around the Capalaba industrial estate and Coolwynpin Creek catchment area - about two kilometres from Ms Auld's home.
Detective Inspector Hollands said the search area included the creek and regions of very dense bushland.
"The search area ... stretches for well over a kilometre from Redland Bay Road through to Moreton Bay Road," he said.
"This is another area where our missing person was last seen. We will be searching for her body or possibly any belongings which may have been left here.
"We found some items on the other side of Redland Bay Road about a week ago. They've gone into forensic testing but there's nothing to suggest they are the missing person's."
Detective Inspector Hollands appealed for anyone who was travelling in the Capalaba area between 3.30am and 4.20am on December 14, who may have seen Ms Auld or witnessed any suspicious behaviour, to come forward.
Police had not identified any persons of interest.
He said murder was one of several possibilities.
"There is still the slight possibility that we may find the missing person alive," he said.
"We will continue on with the investigation until such time as we can ascertain the truth of what's happened to Natarn."
